Automatic car, train-pipe, and electric coupling



W.'-V. TURNER, DECD.

s. c. McoNAHEY, ADMINISTRATOR.

AUTOMATIC CAR, TRAIN PIPE, AND ELECTRIC COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. 1919.

Patented Oct. 3, 1922..

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W. V. TURNER. DECD.

. APPLICATION IIIED MAY 22, |919. 1,430,703. Patented Octn 3, 1922.

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Application filed 'May 22,

,710m t may concern tile it known that V/inrnn V. TURNER, deceased, lote n citizen cit the United States, c-nl resident of ll-illinsburg, in the county ot Allegheny :ind State cil Pennsylvania? did invent :i certain .nen7 ond useful :improve inent in Aflutoinetic Cnn rl`rziin-'lipe, end lllectii/.z Couplings, oit which improvement the -olloiving' is e specification.

This invention relates to cor couplings4 and more pnt'ticulnrly to that type of coupling in which the counterpart coupler heads nrc adopted to be rigidly locked together, ond also provided with ineens 'tor connecttlse trein pipe passages and the electric wir@ connections between the cors.

it-'57ans c cx'iuplers of this type lieve here cou-ore been employed having piif'oted latch tor locl'zinggY tbe counterpart coupler together? pistons Rctunted by 'fluid pressure for rel(V ing' the locks, entoinetic ve devices Afor conL felling communication ronojli the connect/afi., train pipe :i movable slide or contact colorier adepteo, to projected by fluid pressure, to tzbsh electric connection between the correiwondinp; circuits on the connected curs. lo seine ol these prior constructions, there n. possibility thnt the coupler lnxods tony not be tully coupled before tic trein pipe o s is partly opened.) or bet'ore the electric Contact slide is moved ontworffl, in which mso there nity be o lempe or renting of' 'il trein binne pipe which Will unflesiieLl application oit the e electric contact carrier nietT Cil Y lvml by 'further literal inov ci the odjoininpj coupler heed, lt iniggjht `|llsf: 'wippen that :'ouplof'l bends be- 40 wie unlocked 'For nncoiuilf` y betore the tu is fully closed ond the vortici' udthdrmvn which able con l f e con eqnent den@ .ci .i on d dele l nis invention is to oyen fectiom, ond it comprises en ie dei/'icc actuated .in one dithe comino: together ot the ccnrtf-rpnit czniplor bends in the not ot onwil in the other direction by e if controlled duid pressure piston the openingl and closing of the 1919. "Sal No. 239,017.

trein pipe passage, and for control'iingv cornniunicntion from e source oi fluid supply to the Contact carrier operating` piston and. to the release piston of the coupler lock.

TWhen the couplers nre locked together with one oit the contact carriers or slides ezitended to its coupled positionq it the couplers should be accidentally pulled apart, there is danger of breakage or injury to the contact slide, perticulerly on account of the relative lateral inoveinent between the coupler heads during the approach and receding movements. lt is importent, therefore, in case of a breol-in-two3 or on accidentel pnllingeport oit the couplers, to instantly Withdrecf the contact slide, `und one of the teetures of this invention comprises n connection operated by the release movement ci the coupler lock Jfor effecting Withdrawal oi" the extended Contact slide.

ln the accompanying drawings: Figure l is e diagrammatic sectional View, showingl one to in of combined car, trein pipe,4 and electric coupler, embodying this invention,

the parts beingv indicated in the coupled position; 2, siniiler View showing the mrts in nncoupled position; F 3, o sectional View showing modified form of Valve device; 'l e? s detail View illustrating the return .springs for `the electric Contact slide; end Figs. 5 and o, sectional views showing;` the monuelly opeinted Volvo in different positions.

The coupler head incy be oit tbe usual rigid loci: type lio-rino' o casting, 4l.. provided with o hook-sliep l projection or nosea 5, adopted to interlock by o forward ond let-` erol ino-rement with the corresponding projection ot :i counterpart coupler head, o movnble letcli or piyoted locking leverj 6 adapted to clenipingj snifncey on the nose oit the counterpart (,ouplerg pistom Pn mounted in ,ylin-lcr, 9, and con nected by o rorb l0. with the locking lever, end o spring. il, for norino-ll.;V f noying the latch to its"locked position The coupler head is also provided with one or train pipe passagesl l2., adopted to be connected at the foce ot the coupler by ineens of e gaskety 13, with the corresponding gasket opening in the counterpart coupler heed. .llhe electric portion which is usually et i. ,aaefros g connects pipes. 46 and 47, and air ilon's through ports, a4, 23:53, and 235, to cylinder, l?, where it acts tov .torce the piston, l6, and slide, l5, outward to the extended position, as shown in Fig. l, thereby establishing electrical connections between the corresponding circuits of the counterpart couplers in the usual Way. As the slide reaches its extended position, the spring, 22, acting on the trigger' lever, 20, turns the same to lock the slide in said extended position. rl`he operating valve, 50, may then be 'turned back to its intermediate or neutral position, and the air Will be exhausted from the operating cylinder, 17, through pipe, 47, and ports, 52 and 5l.

lllhen it is desired to uncouple and separate the cars, one ot' the operating valves, 50, is turned to its uncoupling position, shown in Eig. 6, in which airis supplied from pipe, 46, through port, 553, to pipe, 46, and passage, 45, Where it acts upon the trigger piston, 2l, to tripl the trigger lever, 20, and release the slide, It will be understood that the air flous through the corresponding passage, 45, o'" the other coupler, and consequently vfill release either trigger that has been set. lt also tlovs to the other operating valve which .stands in its neutral position, but in this position the exhaust from pipe, 46. to port, 5l, is restricted at 54, so as to permit the escape ot only a small amount ot fluid. to the atmosphere, and not enough to interfere with the accumulation ot sufficient pressure in the pipes and pass-ajos to operate the pistons oi' the trigger levers and the other valve devices. its the trigger lever is released, the usual centering springs 66, return the slides to neutral position, and during the latter part ot this movement ot the slides, the valves, 23, are moved to the position for opening communication through groove, 67, from passage, 45, to passage, on both c-:niplers, as shovfn in Fig. 2` Fluid then tions into the chamber ot piston, 40, on both couplers and moves the slide valves bach to the position shown in Fig. 2. During this movement, the sectional stem, 42, moves with the valve, and the spring, 44, will be compressed While the stem, 4?, remains stationary in the position shown in `Fig. l., with its outer end engaging the nose, 5, ot' the other couplern The port, 32, in the slide valve thencennects ports, 29 and 27 therelgiy` equalising the pressure upon the hach of the piston valve, 25, ol" the train pipe pass e, u'l'iereupon the spring, 26, closes said valve. rlhe operating cylinder, 17, is vented to the atmosphere through ports, 35, and 63, and communication is established from port` 36, to port, 37, and the lock releasing cylinder, 9, thus elfecting the release ot the coupler lock, so that the couplers may then be separated, and the uncoupling operation is complete. Ars the couplers `move apart, the spring, 44, singende-fend moves the stem, 43, outward to its iirst position shown in F ig. 2. At the saine time, the from the passages is exhausted through the open end ot passage, 45, at the tace ot the coupler, and through the operating valve, 50, which is then turned bach to its neutral position. i

In the moditication shown in ll`ig. 3, the spring, 44, is eliminated, the stem, 43", ttor actuating the slide valve. 28, is formed in one integral piece, and additional ports, 63 and 64, are provided leading from the slide valve seat to the passages, 36 and 27, respectively, While the slide valve, 28, has an additional port, v65, tor connecting port-s, 63 and 64, in the coupled position. ln this construction, the passage, 37, also communicates directly with passage, 36, instead et being controlled by the piston, 40, as the coupler locks must be released before the piston, 40, and slide valve, 28, are moved.

The operation of this modiiieation in coupling is substantially the same that before described., but in uncoupling, 'the operation is somewhat difiere-nt. ,fitter the electric contactslide has been released, as betere described, and air is supplied to the passage, 86, and to the piston, 40, this piston cannot move the valve, 28, until after the couplers have separated on account of the rigid stem, 43a, bearing against the nose` ot the other coupler. At this time, however, the air Atrom passage, 36, flows through ports. 63, 65, 64 and 27 to the back ot' the train pipe valve, 25, and effects the prompt closing ot that valve even though the exhaust from the cavity, 32, et the valve is open, since this eX- haust is sufficiently restricted to allow the fluid pressure to accumulate at the back of the valve, A t the same time, air i'loivs through passage, 37, to the unlocking cylinder, 9, and actuates the piston, 8, to release the coupler loch, 6, and permit the separation ot the couplers. As the couplers move apart, the piston, 40, moves the valve, 26, to its opposite position, in which the connection through ports, 63, 64 and 65, is cut olf, the exhaust from cavity, 32, also closed, and communication opened between ports, 29 and 27, whereby pressure trom the train pipe p, ssage, l2, remains balanced upon the back oit valve, 25, and holds said valve closed.

llVhen the couplers are loeled together in the running-position, (Fig. l), it tor any reason the couplers should accidentally pull apa-rt by the coupler lock riding upon the nose of the adjoining coupler, it Will be seen that this movement oit the coupler loch, aeting through rods, 57 and 58, and lever, 55, will move the arm, 59, of trigger lever, 20, sufliciently to trip the slide, 15, and permit the same to be instantly Withdrawn to its` neutral position by the centering springs.

' protects the conta-c damaged by in act ine troni oecomii cui-cnf l pulli is' apart oi the coup.v leur der t ns, the slide valve Q8, does ge, a movable coupling tie electric circru Y p projecting said carrier, and a f actuated in one direction by the c, Y i gether olI the couplers in the t up o. and having` ports tor centroiding` the i'luid pressure actingl on said pistou vavo, and communication to the operating pistou ot the electric contact carrier.

2. ln a car coupliugig mecha i m, i." e coinbination of a coupler head having a movable loclr, and a train pipe passage, a piston valve actuated by iluid pressure for controlling,` said passage, a movable contact carrier coirpling` the electric circuits, valve device ilor controlling the fluid pressure acting on said piston valve, and communication to the operating, piston oit the contact carrier, a stein adapted to be engaged by the counterpart coupler in the act oit coupl'Y e' tor moving' said valve device in one di action, and a fluid pressure actuated p ton for moving` the valve in the opposite direction,

3. ln a car coupling;v mechanism, the coinbination of coupler head having,` a movable lock, and a train pipe passage, a pisJ rn valve actuated by fluid pressure controlling` said passage, a movable contact carrier for coupling` the electric circuits, a valve device for controlling the iiuid pressure acting on said piston valve, means operated by the coming together ot the couplers in the act oi" coupling :tor moving said valve de 'ice to one position, a l'luid pressure actuated piston for moving said valve device to its opposite position, and v c means governed by the niovenient oilv the contact carrier tor con trolling comuninicatiou to said itluid pressure actuated piston.

l. ln a car coupling mechanism, he conibination of a coupler head havinga movable loch for holding the coupler heads together, a cylinder and piston tor releasingsaid lock, a train pipe passage adapted to communicate with the correspondingv passage in counterpart coupler, a piston valve actuated by fluid pressure for controlling said pas sage, and a valve device having ports for controlling the pressure acting on said pistou valve to ogen and close the same, and

ports 'tor controlling communication to said lock releasingcylinder, said valve device beingv actuated in one direction by the comino together oit the couplers in coupling, and in the opposite direction by fluid pressure.

5. ln car coupling mechanism, the com- ;)ination of a coupler head having a movable ioch 'for holding.;` the coupler heads together, a cylinder and piston for releasing said locs, rain pipe passage adapted to communiw Y with the corresponding passage in a count lpart coupler, a piston valve actuated by fluid pressure for controlling` said passage, a valve having ports for controlling the i'iuid pressure acting` on said piston valve to open and close the same, a stem actuated by the counterpart coupler tor moving said valve to one position, a fluid pressure actuated piston tor moving the valve to its opposite position, and ports controlled by the movement of said piston tor opening` and closing` communication to said lock releasing,"l cylinder.

ln a car coupling mechanism, the coinbination of coupler head having` a movable loclr for holding the coupler heads together, a cylinder and piston for releasing` said loclr, a train pipe passage adapted to communicate With the corresgonding passage in a counterpart coupler, a piston valve actuated by tluid pressure tor controllingsaid passage, a valve having ports `tor controlling` the fluid pressure actingon said piston valve to open and close the same, a collapsible stem formed in sections with an intermediate spring, and actuated by the counterpart coupler to move said valve to one position, a fluid pressure actuated piston tor movingn said valve to its opposite position and collapsing said stern, and means governed by said movement oi' the fluid pressure actuated piston tor opening coinmunication to said lock releasing cylinder.

i". ln a oar coupling mechanism, the coinbination With a coupler head having a movable lock, a. train pipe passage and a fluid pressure operated valve tor controlling` said passage, ot a movable contact carrier for couplinp` electric circuitsA` a detent tor holding` the carrier projected, a piston for releasing the detent and a valve independent oil said piston and operated by the release action oi' the contaotcarricr for controlling f a supply oit fluid to opera-tc the valve ot the tram pipe passage.

8. ln a car coupling mechanism, the coinbination with a coupler head having,f a movable loclr, a train pipe passage and a fluid pressure operated valve for controlling` said passage, otawmovable contact carrier for coupling electric circuits, a detent for holding the carrier projected, a piston for releasing` the dctent and a valve independent or" said piston and operated by the release action et the contact carrier tor controlling a supply of fluid to operate the valve of the train pipe passage, and to release the Coupler loelr.

9. lili e oar coupling mechanism, the combirietiori with o coupler bead lim/*ing e moyaible look, e train pipe passage, e trein pipe Valve operated by fluid pressure, and a piscon incl Valve for Controlling seicl fluid pressiiree of a movable' coiieet carrier for coupling` electric eireus, and a valve operateil by the release action of die Contact carrier :for eoiirollinp; e supply of fluid to said piston.

1 0, ln e cer eouplirig` mechanism, the eom binaton with e coupler bead haring a, .mov-- able leek, a, train pipe passage, a trein pipe valve operated by liiifl pressure, :md e pistori and valve for Controlling said 'luicl pressure, of i movable eonreet carrier for eoiipiiiig eleetrio circuits, e piston for releasing the coupler loelw:7 :uid a valve operated by the release action of the Contact carrier :for controlling supply of fluid "so both 03": seid pistous.

ln 'testimony whereof l lieve hereunto set my band..

SAB/MIEL MeC@lMCHEY7 Admnew/vfm of Z171@ @More of VVK/titer V.

Tm m er, f] ecm/13e d. 

